A family asked for their cat to be euthanized after he was given away but walked 12 miles back to his old home

The unnamed North Carolina family decided they no longer wanted the orange-and-white cat named Toby and gave him away.

But Toby wanted to return and walked 12 miles to make it back to his original owners.

However, instead of being greeted with joy, Toby was driven to a shelter where the family asked to have him euthanized, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Wake County.

A North Carolina family asked for their cat named Toby to be euthanized after he was given away but walked 12 miles back to his old home

The shelter called the SPCA of Wake County to ask if the organization could take the cat in and help him find a new family

‘The shelter called us at the SPCA to ask if we could take him in and help him find a new family,’ the SPCA wrote on Facebook on April 4. ‘Of course we said YES!’

According to The Charlotte Observer, the seven-year-old was diagnosed with feline immunodeficiency virus, more commonly known as feline AIDS, by SPCA staff in February.

The SPCA did not identify where Toby came from or who his original family was, though many people on social media said the family should not only be identified but blacklisted as well from adopting pets in the future.

‘Toby is safe here at the SPCA Pet Adoption Center waiting to find his forever home. He would prefer to be the only cat in his home. We hope his story inspired you to take a stand for animals in need,’ the SPCA wrote.

The SPCA did not identify where Toby came from or who his original family was, though many people on social media said the family should not only be identified but blacklisted as well from adopting pets in the future

On Tuesday, the SPCA revealed that Toby had been adopted by a new family. He even has his own Instagram page where the new owner has shared pictures of the feline adjusting to life in his new home

Toby’s story was used by the SPCA to promote its 2018 Dog Walk and Woofstock using the line: ‘If he is willing to walk 12 miles to save his life, will you walk ONE to save thousands of animals like Toby?’

On Tuesday, the SPCA revealed that Toby had been adopted by a new family. He even has his own Instagram page where the new owner has shared pictures of the feline adjusting to life in his new home.